English Premier League leaders Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw with 10-a-side Chelsea in the London derby, but Mikel Merino came to the rescue for Arsenal.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a rough foul on Merino just before the end of the first half at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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Despite Caicedo’s sending off, Trevor Chalobah’s header put Chelsea ahead in the second half. However, Merino scored the equalizer in the second half, giving Arsenal a point from a tight encounter between the title rivals.
Arsenal are five points behind second-placed Manchester City, who defeated Leeds United on Saturday, and six points behind third-placed Chelsea.
As the relentlessly competitive contest came to an end, Arsenal were left disappointed at having missed a chance to extend their lead over Chelsea in the title race, while the Blues were relieved to have avoided a heartbreaking defeat.
Arsenal remain favorites to win their first Premier League title since 2004, but Chelsea’s aggressive display suggested they could pose the biggest threat to the Gunners’ title hopes.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions, winning 14 of them, while Chelsea are unbeaten in 7 games in all competitions.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca disappointed his young team’s hopes of winning the title, but centre-back William Saliba was on par with Arsenal, who were absent due to injury.
The first half was a furious one, with both teams trying to impose themselves, leading to a rush of bookings.
Gunners midfielder Martin Zvimendi dragged Reece James down. Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella lunges at Bukayo Saka. Cristian Mosquera’s poleaxe João Pedro. And Riccardo Calafioli cynically pulled James.
Saka almost exacted revenge on Cucurella with a brutal save from Robert Sanchez at his near post.
Teenage sensation Estebao Willian has started for Chelsea after starring in the 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.
However, the 18-year-old was unable to repeat his stunning goal against Barça, squandering Chelsea’s first serious chance by running into him from 9 meters (30 feet).
Enzo Fernandes tested Arsenal keeper David Raya from the edge of the area as Chelsea began to put pressure on the visitors’ reorganized defence.
The battle of attrition took an ugly turn in the 38th minute when Caicedo caught Merino’s ankle with a flagrant foul, which was upgraded from a warning to a sending off after a VAR review.
This was the Blues’ sixth red card in a competitive game this season.
Following the Ecuadorian midfielder’s untimely sending off, Piero Hincapie’s dangerous elbow on Charova led to Chelsea’s cries for a red card, which were ignored.
Just before half-time, Gabriel Martinelli nearly added to Chelsea’s worries with a fierce shot that forced a fine save from Sanchez.
Arsenal scored 10 goals in 12 games, making them the best set-piece team in the league.
However, Chelsea finished second with eight points, with Chalova scoring her ninth in the 48th minute.
The goal was straight out of Arsenal’s playbook, with James curling a corner kick towards the near post and Chalobah rising highest inside the six-yard box to curl a header into the far corner.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responded by sending Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, and his return to his former club was met with jeers and chants of “no Chelsea.”
Arsenal’s changes paid immediate dividends with Merino scoring the equalizer in the 59th minute.
Saka darted past Cucurella with a mesmerizing run and cross, before scoring Merino with a powerful header from close range past Sanchez.
Arteta once again used the Spanish midfielder as a temporary striker, and it was Merino’s fourth goal of the season.
In a frenetic finale, Sanchez made a great stop to deny Saka and Merino, but Arsenal were unable to get the winning shot home.
Chelsea captain Reece James told Sky Sports he was “disappointed” not to get the three points and said the sending off had limited his team’s activities.
“Arsenal have been at the top for the last few years. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Their midfield is tough. Today we played our game and did everything we could to cause damage off the ball.”
“(Maresca) changed the formation a little bit, but we knew they were coming at us, so we absorbed the pressure and tried to catch them (on the counter).”
“I’m proud of the players. It was exciting at the bridge today. I’m happy to get the points.”
Merino said Arsenal were also disappointed not to get the win.
“When you wear this shirt you want to win every game. This is a really difficult stadium to come to and pick up points,” he told Sky Sports. We could have done better, but the team showed a good mentality. ”
Elsewhere on Sunday, Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the Reds as the high-pressure football champions secured a much-needed 2-0 win against West Ham United.
Manchester United ended Crystal Palace’s nine-month unbeaten home run with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory, Aston Villa moved into the top four with a 1-0 win over bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Brighton moved into fifth place with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
